DBA 3.0 armies, projects and campaigns set in the ancient, medieval and fantasy periods.

Tuesday, 13 December 2016

Campaign rule options - stratagems

Play
testing rule options.

During the development of our DBA campaign system we
played with the idea of adding stratagems as an option. Invariably through the
course of a campaign season a player could experience a number of setbacks such
that implementing a cunning stratagem might even their chance of success.

Stratagems would be available to all players but need to be purchased during the
campaign phase - adding reinforcements and supply. Due to their expense a player must plan ahead and build a sufficient reserve of points, however, this may prove difficult
as supply and reinforcements will take a higher priority. The following
stratagems were taken from the classic books written by Frontinus and Polyaenus
and should prove useful and are easily be integrated into the DBA system.

The
Ambush.

The ambush
option functions similar to the HOTT rule allowing Lurkers to appear on the
table from a hidden position. Up to 3 elements of any “fast” troop type, excepting
fast horde (5Hd), may be used to set an ambush. These will be placed during the player’s turn in any rough or bad going
terrain feature and move into contact. This is particularly useful if done in
conjunction with an enemy already engaged in combat.

This costs two pips per
element to appear and make a tactical move and remain on the board as any other
element within the command. They need not all appear at once.

The Gepid as defender had the option to set an ambush and for this they set two Ps aside. Seeing the Gepid formed at the base of
the difficult hill, the Tervingi infantry approached in deeper formation with
the noble cavalry in support on the right. Wary that the hamlet harbored enemy
troops, the Tervingi skirmishers would screen the left flank from possible ambush
while skirmishers on the left would clear the hamlet.

During the battle, Gepid skirmishers, located in the
Hamlet, sprung their ambush on the Tervingi light troops entering it. As the
battle progressed, the Gepid increased their lead to 3 – 0 and now launched their
second hidden element; this one moved toward the Tervingi camp causing more anxiety
to the Gepid opponent.

Battle concluded to a 5 - 2 victory for the Gepid.Next stratagem, the flank march.

2 comments:

Being able to appear regardless of the proximity of the enemy, or regardless of how long the enemy has been in the terrain does make this stratagem quite deadly, even if it does cost 2 PIPs. There are heavy restrictions on when HOTT Lurkers can appear.

Does it also count as a tactical move, thus causing it to cost extra PIPs if out of line of sight of the general?